Electrical system



P 1929. w. F. BOUCHE 1,708,865

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 31, 1925 5 f 16 13 0/ 1 a :e

Patented Apr. 9 1929.

UNITED STATES usages PATENT orrics.

WILLIAM FOREST BOUCHE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO SIMPLEX EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COR PORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Application filed December 31, 1925. Serial No. 78,519.

My invention relates to improvements in electrical systems and more particularly to systems wherein a generator is connected to charge a storage battery and is adapted to be connected'thereto by an automatic switch. In railway car lighting systems it is common to provide a generator driven at variable speed as from the car axle and to provide a main switch which automatically connects the'gencrator to the battery and lamps when the speed of the generator reaches a Value such that the generator will supply the desired voltage. In such switches the movable switch member is usually moved by gravlty to open the switch and is operated by a solenoid or other electroresponsive device to close the switch. Gravity being thus the sole means of holding the switch open, it is found that in some cases, due to jolting of the car or for other reasons, the force of gravity is not sufficient to maintain the switch open and it accidentally closes, with the result that a heavy discharge is likely to take place from the battery through the generator which may cause the blowing of fuses or more serious damage.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a simple and eflicient arrangement for preventing such accidental closing of the main switch. Further and more specific obj ects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detail description given below taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating my improvements in one form. Fig. 2 is a similar diagram illustrating a modification and Fig. 3 is another similar diagram illustrating a further modification.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, 1 represents a generator or dynamo driven at variable speed as from the axle of a railway car and 2 represents a storage battery connected to be charged thereby. One terminal of the generator is connected with the storage battery by conductors 3 and 4 while the other terminal of the generator is adapted to be connected with the storage battery by conductors 5, 6 and 7 through a main switch 8 in the lead 5, 6. The generator is also adapted at the proper time to feed lamps or other translating devices 9 through the conductors 10 and 11 and when the generator is not running, or not running at suflicient speed, the lamps or translating devices will be energlzed from the battery 2.

The main switch 8 is adapted to electrically connect the fixed contacts 12 and 13 when the switch member 8 is raised. In the arrangement shown a solenoid is provided for this purpose comprising a coil 14 in series in the conductor 5 and the potential coil 15 connected across the generator. The sole noid comprising coils 14 and 15 is arranged to act upon a core 16 mechanically connected with the switch member 8. The parts are so designed, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, that when the voltage of the generator reaches the desired value whereby it may be effectively connected with the battery the strength of coil 15 will be such as to raise the switch member 8 against the action of gravity and so close the switch whereupon current will pass 'from the generator to the battery and/or lamps. Coils 14 and 15 are so wound that this current passing from the generator'will cause coil 14 to assist coil 15 and thus tend to hold the switch closed. When however-the generator voltage decreases, due to a decrease in speed, to such a point that the battery tends to discharge through the generator, then the current is reversed in coil 14 whereby it opposes the coil 15 and weakens the solenoid, permitting or causing the switch 8 to open by gravity.

Pivotally suspended by switch member 8, I have shown another solenoid core 16 adapted to rest upon the stop 17 when the switch 8 is open. Core 16 is adapted to be operated by a solenoid comprising a potential coil 18 connected across the generator and a potential coil 19 connected across the battery. These coils 18 and 19 are wound so that they oppose one another. \Vhen the main switch is closed so that the voltage applied to each is substantially the same, the coils 18 and 19 substantially neutralize one another. When however the switch 8 is open which, under normal conditions, is when the generator is running at below critical speed, the voltage applied to coil 18 will be less than that applied to coil 19 whereby the solenoid produces a substantial pull on the core 16 tending to hold the main switch 8 open and thus prevent the same from being accidentally closed by a jolting of the car or otherwise.

Vihen however the generator again speeds up so that its i oltage substantially .eqrials that of the battery, then the coils l8 and 19 bst ntially. neut alize one, anoth .so that they hayenornaterialteiidency to hold switch 8 open wherehy it may be closed automatically in the usual or desired manner" i It will be noted however that should the lmttery circuit 4, 7 become opened ceiden tally or for any reason and the. generator shouldbe started up, tosuppl-ythe lamps, then asituationwouldarise ingvhiclnprior to the closing of the switch 8,-co il 19 would remain de-energized,whilethe coil, 18. would, build a up and thus tend toholdthe main switch open at the very tiinezwhenitwould be desired to have .it closed. LThis however may, .be taken care ofiby so lproportioning the-winding of the coils 18 andthat the pull of the former is-only afsinall fraction of thepull of the coil 15. However, in order to. prevent the coil 18 from having any substantial tendency to hold the main switch open when it is desired to cut inthe generator bysclosing theniain switch, I may" provide an arrangement as shown in Fig. 2 wherein 2.0 represents arelayswitch conneeted in series .inicii cuit with coil ,18, and 21 represents an ,eleetroma'gnet connected in series incireuit with the coil 19,; magnet 21 being adapted to ACIQSQ A W lICh 2 Whenever the. coil 19 isenergized. Thus When the battery is.;energize d the coil .19 and J:Ul2,gnet2l will alsorloc energized-and maintain the switch '20 closed so, that. the eoiL18. wjll b connected. across the. generator. But should the circuit.-fron1,the battery ,to. the coil 19 become opei1- for 'any. reason, .then coil-l9, and also magnet 21 will become dee'nergiz d which will cause the switch. to be fopened so that the circuit through coil,l8 is Opened an C l 18 will be renderedineffectiye and will not have any tendencyto maintain the switch ;8

open so long as the coil 19 is (leenergized. 7 Referring to Fig, .3, the arrangement there shown is substantially the sameexcept that a high resistance 22 is connected in series with coil 18 and the high resistance 23 is connected in series with coil 19, a magnet 24 beingalso connected in serieswith the c0ill9 and adapted to operate. a switch 25. which wheat-he magnet 24 is de-energize'd so thatfthe switch 25 is closed, the. coil 18 is short-circuited through the conductors .26 and 27. Thus ivh eneve'r the coil 19.beco1nes (lo-energized as by reason of an open battery circuit or 'for any other reason, switch 25 :will be.closed thus .rendering ineffective coil 18 so that it ,willnot have any materialtendency to hold ments-since manychangesa I I d niodi fi ations maybe made and thenirhlprovhrhen embodiedinwidely difi'erent forms without de parting from the spirit and the scope thereof in tlie roadei aspects of the iiivehtion. Hence I desire coyer all inodificiit'ib'iis and foruisepl ning within the lengths-e or seope of any ohe or more of the appended claims.

what l elaiinas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An electrical systeinhaying in combination a' generator, a storage battery connected in circuit with the generator, a switch in i cuit between thegeneratogr and battery el ec troresponsive means controllihgthe opera tion, of the switch, c and ;ele ctror esp o ns ive means tending to hQld said switch in ope ii.position, said last mentioned electroresponsive means includinga potentialjeoil responsive to the potential ofthe generator anti)- posing potential, coilresponsiye to 9, blil eh tialof. the battery; an meansf r ee e x s in'elfective the generator poteiitial eoil ,u pon de-fenergization of thebattery menin es.

2. An electrical sy'stem havingiinco tion a generatordrivenayariablespeed, storage battery andiarnps conneeted to be ppl ther ma ma n s tehefor Ql s nd discon bil git q enera???- e; from the hat-tery and lamps, electroi-esponsive means c ntr ling t e. QP F lQD,:,. f;- i switch and acting; to cause ,the sw tch to closed when the, yoltage pt, the g igeg 'pdr reaeliesa predetermined Van ssa ,ele tr o} p n ve.mea sten ing to bqls fia t i wi in onen position, said last mentioned,el ctro} responsive m s pq y ing l i QlQQ- l 9 res onsiv toeth ple el tia e ha ghe ga gr and neppr nepq nt el. pa i to the Pot t Qt t e battery 1m fl e v n s n v the-sea ate .pqt n 1 responsivetoia de-energization of th fiiiaery po ent a -s l 3- 'l t m sy m ayin -finished tion a generator, a storage hattery conneeted in circuit with the generator a switch Circuit between the generator and hatgery, glee tro'responsiv' mea S QQ QH Qg 2:91 tion of the s witch and electroresp ons ye means tending to hold. said Switch open position, saidlast finentioned eleetroresponsive means including a potential [coil responsive to the potential oi fthe, generator and-an opposing potential coil responsiye to the potential of the battery and nleans-for, $1 031)- cii-euiting the; generator; potential rigi l sponsive to ade-energization of the atter'y potentialeoil.

1 An e e t i l. if t il a iiiie n rat r. e a-a e i t a geneee eu tiii t the ge erat r, 9ham csuit twee e en rate. a d te 'iop E? r sp n mea e 'ql iastiieepeifet o of the. .r wit hnaml whet n es y means tending to hold said switch in open position, said last mentioned electroresponsive means including a potential coil connected across the generator and an opposing potential coil connected across the battery, both oi? said coils acting electromagnetically on a member connected With the movable member of the switch. said two coils substantially neutralizing one another when the switch is closed, and means for (lo-energizing the coil across the generator responsive to a de-energization ot the coil across the battery. 5. An electrical system having in combina tion a generator, a storage battery connected in circuit with the generator, a switch in circuit between the generator and battery, electrorcsponsive means controlling the operation of the switch, and elcctrores 'ionsive means tending to hold said switch in open position, said n'ientioned electroresponsive means including, a potential coil connected across the generator and an opposing potential coil connected across the battery, said two coils substantially neutralizing one another when the switch is closed. and means tor rendering the coil across the generator substantially inetlcctive responsive to a deenergixation oi the coil across the battery.

(5. An electrical system having in combination a generator, a storage battery connected to be charged thereby, a switch for connectin and disconnecting the generator and battery, said switch being, opened by gravity, electroresponsive means for closing said switch and electroresponsive means tending: to hold said switch in open position, said last mentioned electroresponsive means including a potential coil connected across the generator and an opposing potential coil connected across the battery and means for rendering the coil across the generator substantially inetl'ective responsive to a de-energ'ization oi the coil across the battery.

7. An electrical system having; in combination a generator, a storage battery connected to be charged thereby, a switch for connecting and disconnecting the generator and battery, said switch being opened by gravity. electroresponsivc means for closing said switch and electroresponsivc lllcans tend ing to hold said switch in open position, said last mentioned electroresponsive means ineluding a potential coil connected across the generator and an opposing potential coil connected across the battery, both of said coils acting eiectroniagnetically on a member connected with the movable member of the switch and said two coils substantially neutralizing one another when the switch is closed and means for rendering the coil across the generator substantially inefl cctiy'e rc sponsic to a deenergization of the coil across the battery.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

\VILLIAM FOREST BOUCHE. 

